Mental Health Policy & Response
Mentally healthy children are more successful in school and life.
Good mental health is critical to children’s success in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social–emotional and mental and behavioral health support achieve better academically.
Erin's Law
Illinois public schools are required by law to provide all students, from Grades Pre-K through 12, with age-appropriate personal safety awareness and prevention education.
In order to comply with the requirement to provide developmentally sensitive and appropriate training for students, lessons have been carefully developed by Mental Health professionals.
What is Erin's Law?
The Comprehensive Health Education Act, often referred to as Erin's Law, was signed into law in January, 2013.
The law expanded existing requirements that schools provide instruction in age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault prevention to include grades pre-kindergarten through 5.
Erin's Law is named for Erin Merryn, an abuse survivor, who is now a national advocate for sexual abuse.
Suicide prevention
CCSD62 students in Grades 5-8 receive information about good mental health through a Mental Health Awareness program.
The Ericka's Lighthouse curriculum is used to raise awareness about depression, good mental health, suicide prevention, by breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health.